Thoughts and observations about Modesto and Stanislaus County

Has Ann Romney Ever Worked?

EOM Staff

According to Hillary Rosen, a democratic strategist (although not connected to the Obama campaign), Ann Romney “has never worked a day in her life”. There has been quite an uproar over this statement, and some have decided that democrats are now waging a war on women. Certainly, Ms. Rosen could have chosen a better way to express what many American women feel when considering Mitt Romney for president. He is now putting his wife out there as a way of appealing to women voters. I, along with countless other women, certainly support Mrs. Romney’s decision to be a stay at home mother. There is no more important job in the world than raising good children to become good adults. But where the Romneys fail to appeal to women voters is that with their vast wealth they have no idea what it is like to work full-time (and possibly a part-time job), pay for day care, gas, electricity, water, insurance, food, rent and all the other expenses involved in day to day life. And on top of that they lose the opportunity to spend more time with their children.

Does anyone actually believe the Romneys understand that the majority of families in America have to have two incomes to support themselves? That choosing to be a stay at home mom isn’t even an option for many of us? If you are a low-income family, both parents work. Many families sole support is the mother’s income. Even if you are a middle-class family, you need two incomes to survive. I doubt the Romneys really have a clue that most of us juggle which bill to pay this month and which we can put off until next month. I certainly don’t believe they lay awake at night wondering if they can possibly send a child to college? Or worry about losing their home due to medical expenses. The majority of foreclosures in America are due to medical bills not covered by insurance. And so many American families are living without insurance.

Mrs. Romney responded to the comment by saying that we should all respect the choice that each woman and mother makes. Yes, we should. She was fortunate to be able to make that choice without her family suffering financially. For most American woman, there is no choice. We have to work if we want our children to eat. I just don’t believe the Romneys have any idea what life is like for you and me.